Tag Archives: Fighting substance abuse

Drug Addiction recovery

Substance abuse prevention guidelines

February 9, 2017
Substance abuse prevention

Substance abuse prevention guidelines that help in effective treatment and recovery

Substance abuse prevention guidelines: The duty of care to everyone

When one has grown to the age where they can on their own will chose to indulge in substance abuse then we can comfortably say that such individuals are able to make positive decisions of stopping the indulgence. Often young people are faced with a number of challenges in life but of all these challenges much as they have some effects on you, they can never be anywhere close to the effects people experience when one uses alcohol or drugs. In her over two decades of helping addiction patients, doctor Dalal Akoury registers that the decision you take about alcohol and drugs will influence your health, school performance, your job, career or your relationship and freedom. The effects of alcohol and drug abuse are fatal and life threatening and that is why substance abuse prevention guidelines are essential for all of us to keep the distance from all these substances. Because of the seriousness consequences, it is important to know that as an individual you first ore yourself the duty of care to be responsible for your own health and then to people around you.  When discussing the guidelines for substance abuse prevention and especially in our young ones we must take note of these two very important factors:

  • At what age do you first use alcohol and drugs?
  • A family history of alcoholism and drug addiction.

For the purpose of this article, we will discuss the first factor and progressively deal with the second one in the next article. This is going to be very informative and you don’t want to be left out.

Substance abuse prevention guidelines: Age of first use of alcohol and drugs

Indulgence in alcohol consumption and drugs use at a tender age when the brain is still developing and has not fully matured will definitely increase your risk of being an addict in the future for alcoholism and drugs. When you begin using drugs or consuming alcohol early say 15 years of age, because of the state of your brain at this time you are more likely to increase your risk of developing alcohol abuse or dependence compared to those making their first taste of the same at the age of 21 or more. This theory has been confirmed by several types of research done of late. Having said that, we now understand why dealing with drug craving is a serious problem. Many patients have consented to take their first drink in their childhood some as young as seven years of age.

This is a clear indication that as parents and guardians, we need to re-evaluate our roles in childbearing and up bring. This is not a family motivation message but if we want to have a healthy generation in the future, what we do today with our young one’s matters. You can choose to make a positive change now by scheduling an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury and her team of experts today so that redemption can be done professionally.

Substance abuse prevention guidelines: The duty of care to everyone

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Military forces addiction and drug abuse

February 7, 2017
Military forces addiction

Military forces addiction and drug abuse is becoming very common and it is now time to let it go for good health to prevail

Military forces addiction and drug abuse: What is not known to the public?

When defining drug addiction you will probably include in your definition the fact that addiction does not discriminate on personality or status or otherwise, this is very true and practical. The effects of drug abuse in our military forces addiction has not been a topic of discussion for the public for a very long time but his does not mean that the men and women in uniform do not suffer from the scourge of drug addiction. Doctor Dalal Akoury MD is a veteran addiction expert for over two decades founded AWAREmed health and wellness resource center to primarily help everyone including the military forces agrees that, it may be true that the rate of illicit drug abuse may be lower among the military personnel compared to the civilians, but studies reveals that excessive use of alcohol and cigarette smoking are more dominant with the military forces compared to the civilian.

The kind of life lived in the confinement of barracks is of forced respect to the superiors. It is forced because in most cases the rules require the officers to give a “yes sir” response irrespective of whether this is the correct response or not. We all know that respect is earned and never forced. Again this trend normally causes stress to the officers who have no say whenever they are being deployed during wartime. Zero-tolerance policies and stigma pose difficulties in detecting and treating substance use problems in military personnel this is also compounded by lack of confidentiality which discourages many who may require treatment from pursuing it.

Those with multiple deployments and combat exposure are at greatest risk of developing substance use problems. They are likely to engage in new-onset heavy weekly drinking and binge drinking, to suffer alcohol- and other drug-related problems, and to have greater prescribed use of behavioral health medications. They are also more likely to start smoking or relapse to smoking.

Military forces addiction and drug abuse: Illegal and prescription drugs

The question of drug abuse in the forces much as it is real it has not been very much rampant compared to the abuse among the civilians. The use of illicit drugs has been very minimal mainly because of the strict adherence to the zero tolerance rule for drug use among the Department of Defense (DoD) this is according to the studies conducted by DoD. This decrease has been on the decline since this rule was first introduced about two decades ago. This zero tolerance policy is at the moment being applied without notice to the soldiers by running frequent tests on the soldiers. The consequences of testing positive to any illicit substance are very stern and the soldiers found positive can be unceremoniously be dismissed from the force besides being prosecuted in the court of law.

It is also interesting to note that despite efforts made to contain the use of illegal substances in the forces the same has not been properly done to the abuse of prescription drugs which statistics has revealed to be on the increase and is being abused almost on a willing basis and in relation to the civilian population. The same report of DoD indicated that misuse of prescription drugs in the forces went up progressively from just 2% in the year 2002 to 11% in 2008 that is a hooping 9% increase with opioid pain medications being misused the most by the service members.

This great misuse is attributed to the fact that these drugs are easily available and are commonly prescribed to them from time to time for pain relieving reasons. The urge to using the pain relieving prescription drugs is necessitated by the fact that service men normally attain injuries in the line of duty and are consistently straining as a result of bearing the burden of carrying heavy equipment during multiple deployments rendering them to have consistent body aches. If you’re in the forces and this describes you, help is just a phone call away and doctor Akoury will help you out professionally.

Military forces addiction and drug abuse: What is not known to the public?

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Parental obligations in controlling addiction

February 2, 2017
Parental obligations

Parental obligations in controlling addiction begins with you and your choice of lifestyle

Parental obligations in controlling addiction: Making progress is substance abuse management

Children are a blessing that cannot be quantified into monetary values. It, therefore, means that when you have them, you’re wealthy with the substance of value. If that is so, how well do you care for them? With the prevalence of drug addiction everywhere, we must do all it takes to keep the treasures we have and that is why, experts at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD, are very particular on the parental obligations in the control of substance abuse. Drug addiction has become an impediment in the fight vice and healthy living. Having been in practice for over two decades, doctor Akoury reiterates that the problem of childhood addiction is worrying. In fact, it is almost becoming a normal practice in many families for children as young as 15 years of age getting addicted to drugs.

Many parents in an attempt of controlling this have put up family stringent rules like imposing curfew but still, all these rules have not worked as they are being broken leaving us frustrated and devastated. Because of the problems involved, doctor Akoury advice that parent should seek professional help in good time. This is necessary since professionals are trained primarily to offer solutions by getting to the root cause of the matter. And because addiction often comes with some elements of stigma, sometimes parents often chose to keep to themselves in fear of being ridiculed. Dear parent, we are talking about the health of your highly valued child and treatment is the best you can give to them irrespective of what others may say. We want to help you have the joy of having sons and daughters back to your family if only you can let us know of your predicaments by scheduling an appointment with doctor Akoury today.

Parental obligations in controlling addiction: Educating parents about drugs

Have you heard that knowledge is power? In this case, a knowledgeable parent will offer immediately because they are able to recognize and label the condition. They will notice the warning signs, suspicious behavior and get to know the differences between various drugs and their effects. This may be good for a start but often not enough. It is important to note that there will be no significant result if certain things are not changed and it is only a professional who will you help out. And to the parents, it is not just about what you tell your patients, but helping them have a change in thinking, behavior, and attitude which can be done by showing them, love.

It is all about developing a different kind of mindset which will help you have some control in situations like that. For instance illustrating from the experience of a given family therapist who specifically worked with individuals and families struggling with alcoholism, drug abuse, and dependence, who introduced an affectionate formula known as the “3-C’s” with this he would simply explain to parents and loved ones that:

  • You didn’t cause this condition.
  • You can’t control it
  • You can’t cure

Finally, this application might appear strange in some ways, however using rational and logical thought processes when dealing with irrational and illogical behavior e.g. alcoholics, substance abusers and out of control situations don’t usually work very well and if you could stay with us on the link, we will be telling you more about some different way of looking at it, thinking about it, and managing it in our next article.

Parental obligations in controlling addiction: Making progress is substance abuse management

http://www.integrativeaddictionconference.com/wp-admin

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Substance abuse phenomenon and abstinence

February 2, 2017
Substance abuse phenomenon

Substance abuse phenomenon and abstinence. In fact, abstinence is one of the perfect solutions to drug addiction

Substance abuse phenomenon and abstinence: Self-help for addiction

For a long time, drug addiction has been a constant source of life frustration which is compounded the vulnerability of everyone when it comes to substance abuse. For how long will our people suffer at the hands of drugs? We spoke to doctor Dalal Akoury MD who is a veteran addiction expert and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness resource center over this and she is going to share with us some of the action points you can take on your own and even as a group. Like for instance, as an individual, you can choose to practice abstinence as a means of containing addiction. Talking about substance abuse phenomenon and abstinence is where an individual makes a decision willingly to renounce all kinds of activities known to be harmful and addictive.

This decision will require taking bold steps and making certain sacrifices to abscond the consumption of certain substances and shunning areas where such products are used and purposely choosing a healthier lifestyle. That is to say, one may choose to avoid places where smoking is widespread. Various institutions and governments have in the recent past ban cigarette smoking in certain areas which has positively impacted on many people choosing to abstain from smoking. On the other hand, if alcohol is the problem then keeping distance to alcohol selling joints and all social gatherings where alcohol will be served is ideal.

Experts at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center agrees that the practice of abstinence is open for everybody but most importantly to those individuals with confirmed addictive personality. For example, if one is using caffeine and decides to remove all inducement, the decision could also be guided by the fact that taking on a substance can lead to using another like smoking and drinking all at the same time. One may choose to abstain not because they are at any risk of being addicted to the substance but just by making an observation on the surrounding. Having seen people suffering from drug addiction before may necessitate one opting for absolute abstinence to avoid the same experience.

Substance abuse phenomenon and abstinence: How do you abstain?

Abstinence is not easy for everyone, it will take great effort, commitment, self-control and willpower to achieve this because it entails strict engagement only in positive attitude and being bold enough to say NO if and when offered anything of addictive nature like alcohol or cigarette. It also entails inventing positive and healthy ways of dealing with issues related to stress and other associated problems in life. This is particularly important to those people who have not been in any sort of drug addiction before.

If one is already addicted to a substance, abstinence will come with the effects of withdrawal symptoms of their addiction and must embrace coping approaches including how they will deal with these when they come. This will involve making several alterations like creating a new set of friends and only choosing to socialize with people who will not influence negative temptations resorting to relapse. And at this point, you will need to consult quite regularly with the experts from AWAREmed health center from time to time to remain on course to the end of the recovery journey.

Substance abuse phenomenon and abstinence: Self-help for addiction

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Nutrition benefits

Nutritional imbalances effects and diet

December 27, 2016
Nutritional imbalances effects

Nutritional imbalances effects and diet. The solution is in healthy feeding and being active physically

Nutritional imbalances effects and diet: Drug addiction recovery

The human body needs to be kept healthy for it to function optimally as required. Several things put together helps in ensuring the proper functionality of the body. Among them is the good nutrition, we all need to feed well for our bodies to have enough energy to propel daily life activities. When we feed well and avoid harmful substance like drugs into our system the body will function normally, however, the deficiency of these vital nutrients in the body may have serious consequences especially in the life of those using drugs. It, therefore, means that nutritional imbalances effects on such people if not addressed in good time can cause serious health complications, and that is why we want to engage the services of doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President, and founder of the AWAREmed health center to help you and me live a healthy lifestyle.

Nutritional imbalances effects and diet: How substance abuse harms the body

Substance abuse harms the body in two major ways which need to be properly identified and addressed adequately, the two ways include:

  • The substance itself affects the body
  • It causes negative lifestyle changes, such as irregular eating and poor diet

For example, infants who were exposed to alcohol while in the womb often have physical and mental problems. The alcohol affects the growing baby by crossing the placenta. After birth, the baby may have withdrawal symptoms. The mother’s poor nutrition, while she is drinking, can harm the baby’s growth and development while still in the womb.

Recovery from substance abuse also affects the body in other ways, including metabolism processing energy, organ function, and mental well-being. Proper nutrition may help the healing process. Nutrients supply the body with energy. They provide substances to build and maintain healthy organs and fight off infection. The impact of different drugs on nutrition is described below.

Nutritional imbalances effects and diet: Opiates

Opiates including codeine, oxycontin, heroin, and morphine affect the gastrointestinal system. Constipation is a very common symptom of abuse. Symptoms that are common during withdrawal include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

These symptoms may lead to a lack of enough nutrients and an imbalance of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride.

Eating balanced meals may make these symptoms less severe however eating can be difficult due to nausea. A high-fiber diet with plenty of complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, vegetables, peas, and beans is recommended.

Nutritional imbalances effects and diet: Alcohol

Alcoholism is one of the major causes of nutritional deficiency in the United States. The most common deficiencies are of pyridoxine (vitamin B6), thiamine, and folic acid. A lack of these nutrients causes anemia and nervous system neurologic problems. Korsakoff’s syndrome “wet brain” occurs when heavy alcohol use causes a lack of enough thiamine.

Alcohol intoxication also damages two major organs involved in metabolism and nutrition: the liver and the pancreas. The liver removes toxins from harmful substances. The pancreas regulates blood sugar and the absorption of fat. Damage to these two organs results in an imbalance of fluids, calories, protein, and electrolytes.

Other complications include:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Permanent liver damage (or cirrhosis)
  • Seizures
  • Severe malnutrition
  • Shortened life expectancy

Laboratory tests for protein, iron, and electrolytes may be needed to determine if there is a liver disease in addition to the alcohol problem. Women who drink heavily are at high risk of osteoporosis and need to take calcium supplements and also if this describes you, it is important that you be consulting with experts from time to time and AWAREmed health center is your home of all addiction solutions.

Nutritional imbalances effects and diet: Drug addiction recovery

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